Milosevic release plea rejected

THE HAGUE, Netherlands -- Slobodan Milosevic must stay in custody despite an application for temporary release, judges at The Hague war crimes tribunal have ruled.

Milosevic had applied for temporary freedom in order to prepare a more effective defence.

"The trial has already commenced and the trial chamber is not satisfied that if he were released he would continue to appear for trial and would not pose a danger to any victim, witness or others," presiding judge Richard May said.

VIDEO CNN's Christiane Amanpour reports former Yugoslav President Milosevic is sticking to his defense that NATO caused the suffering in Kosovo (March 6) Play video (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media)   EXTRA INFORMATION In-Depth: Milosevic On Trial  The People vs. Milosevic    MORE STORIES • Milosevic trial splits Serb views  • Timeline: The Milosevic years  • Milosevic: Key quotes

The former Yugoslav leader asked the International Criminal Tribunal for former Yugoslavia last month to set him free after complaining he did not have access to facilities needed to conduct his defence.

He said he would not abscond if released. He has declined to appoint defence counsel in a show of contempt for a court he says is "illegal" and refuses to deal with independent legal experts appointed by the court to assist him.

Milosevic, accused of crimes against humanity and genocide in Croatia, Bosnia and Kosovo in the 1990s, was the tribunal's most wanted man until his extradition from Belgrade last June. His trial on 66 counts started last month.

On Tuesday Milosevic's trial was halted for 24 hours after a fire broke out in the tribunal cafeteria.

The blaze began in a deep fat fryer on the second floor of the building. There were no injuries.

Hundreds of officials, visitors and journalists were evacuated from the tribunal building after the fire disturbance and Milosevic was returned to his detention centre.